For most Georgia Tech players, the Hyundai Sun Bowl brings back some bad memories.

For Quayshawn Nealy, the feelings are more bittersweet.

Like all his teammates, he was disappointed in the overtime loss to Utah. There was also, however, his 74-yard interception return for a touchdown that still stands as the highlight of his collegiate career.

"I remember that every day," he said. "I remember it like it was yesterday, like it was a dream. Until I hit the sideline, I thought I was dreaming. That was a good memory.

"The bad memory was that we lost the last game of the season. But we're here for a reason and that's to finish. We need to capitalize. We haven't won a bowl game in forever. Now, we have a chance to make history."

Nealy has been making some of his own history at Georgia Tech. He moved into the starting lineup last year as a freshman at midseason and by the Sun Bowl was a difference-maker.

Advertisement

His role became even bigger when fellow linebacker Julian Burnett was lost for the season to a spring neck injury and his leadership proved pivotal when Georgia Tech made a defensive coordinator change early in the year.

"Quayshawn is more of a quiet person; he leads more by example," coach Paul Johnson said. "He's played a lot of snaps and it's natural for him to be in there making the defensive calls."

Nealy is third on the team with 74 tackles and two sacks despite missing a game with injury and has one interception.

"Stepping in for Julian Bennett, I have some big shoes to fill," Nealy said. "Coming into this year, I knew I'd play a whole lot. Last year (in the Sun Bowl) prepared me for big-game experience, that helped me.

"Coach (Al) Groh (the former defensive coordinator who was replaced early in the year) told me this was my defense and to lead by example."

That's also part of the natural progression at Georgia Tech.

"We have a young defense," Nealy said. "We had some great older guys, they did a great job of leading and passing it on to guys like me. Now, it's my time to take that over and show guys they can achieve anything."

Still, this has been a trying year for the Yellow Jackets, who had to overcome a terrible start to the season to reach this point. The words most often used to describe Georgia Tech's year, particularly defensively, are "roller coaster" and Nealy sees that.

"The year's had its ups and downs," said Nealy, who earned All-State mention in 2010 as a senior linebacker at Lakeland (Fla.) High School. "I've had some injuries, I missed a game, really a game and a half.

"But we have a chance to win a bowl game and that would be big for us. We want to make the most of this."

Nealy and the Jackets will have that chance Monday.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359. Follow him on Twitter @bretbloomquist